HR5437-119

What This Bill Does

The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Stone Slab Products Act creates a liability shield for manufacturers and sellers of stone slab products, including quartz, mineral, crystal, glass, porcelain, stone, ceramic, or similar slab products shipped in interstate or foreign commerce. Congress finds that lawsuits have sought money damages from manufacturers and sellers for silica-dust injuries allegedly caused when third-party fabricators cut, drill, shape, polish, or grind the products in workplaces regulated by federal and state safety laws. The bill's stated purpose is to prohibit civil actions against manufacturers and sellers for injuries caused by respirable silica or other substances arising from third-party fabrication, preserve consumer access to stone slabs, protect the lawful industry, and prevent burdens on interstate and foreign commerce. Section 3 provides that qualified civil actions may not be brought in federal or state court and pending qualified civil actions must be dismissed as soon as practicable after enactment. Section 4 defines fabrication, qualified civil action, qualified product, seller, and state, including territories and political subdivisions.

Who Benefits and How

Stone slab manufacturers benefit from a federal bar on qualified silica-injury suits arising from third-party fabrication. Stone slab sellers benefit because pending and future qualified civil actions against them would be dismissed or prohibited. Countertop retailers benefit from reduced litigation exposure tied to fabrication activities they do not control. Consumers seeking stone slab products benefit indirectly if the bill preserves supply and interstate commerce in those products.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Fabrication workers with silica injuries lose a path to sue manufacturers or sellers for qualified civil actions. Plaintiff attorneys handling stone slab silica cases must see pending qualified actions dismissed. Federal courts must dismiss pending qualified civil actions and reject new covered suits. State courts lose jurisdiction to hear qualified civil actions covered by the federal prohibition.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits qualified civil actions against stone slab manufacturers and sellers in federal or state court.
• Requires pending qualified civil actions to be dismissed after enactment.
• Defines covered injuries as arising from third-party fabrication, including silica or other substance exposure.
• Defines qualified products to include stone, quartz, mineral, crystal, glass, porcelain, ceramic, or similar slabs in commerce.